Key Facts
- Categorized as a Amor-class Asteroid
- Comparable in size to a football field
- Will pass within 24,506,007 km of Earth in 2019
- Classified as a Near Earth Asteroid (NEA)
- Not a Potentially Hazardous Object
- See orbit simulation
Overview
2019 AP3 is a very small asteroid whose orbit approaches the orbit of Earth but does not cross it. NASA JPL has classified 2019 AP3 as a "Near Earth Asteroid" due to its orbit's proximity to Earth, but it is not considered potentially hazardous because computer simulations have not indicated any imminent likelihood of future collision.
2019 AP3 orbits the sun every 1,400 days (3.83 years), coming as close as 1.15 AU and reaching as far as 3.75 AU from the sun. Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2019 AP3 is probably between 0.206 to 0.461 kilometers in diameter, making it a small to average asteroid, very roughly comparable in size to a football field.
The rotation of 2019 AP3 has been observed. It completes a rotation on its axis every 29.56 hours.
Close Approaches
2019 AP3's orbit is 0.15 AU from Earth's orbit at its closest point. This means that there is a wide berth between this asteroid and Earth at all times.
2019 AP3 has 2 close approaches predicted in the coming decades:
| Date | Distance from Earth (km) | Velocity (km/s) |
|---|---|---|
| March 24, 2019 | 24,506,007 | 4.696 |
| March 31, 2042 | 26,745,576 | 5.251 |
Images and Observations
2019 AP3's orbit is determined by observations dating back to Jan. 22, 2015. It was last officially observed on June 29, 2019. The IAU Minor Planet Center records 537 observations used to determine its orbit.
Accessibility and Exploration
This asteroid is not considered a viable target for human exploration by the NHATS study.Similar Objects
These objects have orbits that share similar characteristics to the orbit of 2019 AP3:References
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or view a random objectOrbital Elements
- Epoch: 2460200.5 JD
- Semi-major axis: 2.451 AU
- Eccentricity: 0.5314
- Inclination: 2.36°
- Longitude of Ascending Node: 128.96°
- Argument of Periapsis: 54.84°
- Mean Anomaly: 59.99°
Physical Characteristics
- Diameter: ~0.266 km
- Magnitude: 20.55
Derived Characteristics
- Orbit Period: 1,400 days (3.83 years)
- Avg. Orbit Speed: 19.05 km/s
- Aphelion Distance: 3.75 AU
- Perihelion Distance: 1.15 AU
- Rotation Period: 29.56 hours
Map Comparison
Orbit Simulation
Sky Map
The position of 2019 AP3 is indicated by a ◯ pink circle. Note that the object may not be in your current field of view. Use the controls below to adjust position, location, and time.
Size Rendering
The below comparison is an artistic rendering that uses available data on the diameter of 2019 AP3 to create an approximate landscape rendering with New York City in the background. This approximation is built for full-resolution desktop browsers. Shape, color, and texture of asteroid are imagined.
